Stowaways caught at Freeport - January 21, 2006

Seven Algerian stowaways were intercepted and marched back to their vessels yesterday morning as the Freeport's security grappled once again with illegal immigrants.

The men, aged between 18 and 25, offered no resistance after they tried to enter Malta on board two ships from Algeria.

Last week five stowaways were caught at the Freeport leaving a container from aboard a ship.

Freeport security realised at about 2.30 a.m. that two stowaways had just disembarked from the North Africa 2, an Algerian vessel. They were immediately rounded up and kept in custody, according to port sources.

At 5 a.m., five more stowaways were seen jumping from the Antares onto the Terminal 1 quay. Security officers managed to intercept three of the men at once while the other two were seized close to the security gate shortly afterwards.

An ambulance was called but with the exception of one of the stowaways, who suffered minor injuries, all were found to be in relatively good health. Contrary to the norm, the stowaways were not cooped up inside containers and had probably been travelling for some 24 hours from Algeria to Malta, the sources said.

The illegal immigrants were marched back to the vessels under escort and guarded by the police after the captains signed a declaration admitting the men had left their ships. The immigration police were informed about the case. A Freeport official expressed his disgust about a district policeman who launched a tirade of expletives as he was called to assist.

The two ships were expected to leave the island last night.

"The arrival of north African stowaways has become a problem, especially during the winter months. There's a racket taking place out there, without the knowledge of the ship captains," a Freeport official said.

Four of last week's Algerian stowaways were forced back onto the container ship they had arrived on. Contrary to yesterday's incident, the captain then had initially argued that the immigrants were rounded up on land and demanded proof that they had travelled on his ship.

Another of last week's stowaways, who is claiming to be Iranian, is still being held in Malta, according to the sources.